If you’re viewing this page on a phone or tablet, please turn to view in landscape mode, thank you. If you can’t see the list of services on the right hand side please use the connecting links or scroll down for these and other events and information.

Current news and updates.

• Happy New Year to you all!

• Our regular worship and church life continues online in midweek and Sunday evening, led by Rev Lynn and the Ministry Team using Zoom software. These include morning and evening prayer and are still on most days of the week. Click here for details. Please contact Rev Lynn if you would like to join us, there is no requirement to live within our benefice, you would be most welcome! With our now having services in both in church and online on Zoom, we have become a “hybrid” church – a church that recognises that it is the being together that counts, more than where you are sitting, to worship God.

• The draft vision for the On The Way process is now available. This process is looking at how the Church will exist in South East Cornwall over the next decade. If you would like to share your ideas on how it can be implemented across the Deanery please do email Revd Lynn. Please note the Steering Group are not looking for opinions on the vision, but practical ideas for making these changes happen. The key elements are:

   Community engagement – to be available – to respond to their needs – to use our churches in a wider sense – to be generous and open for occasional offices – to promote the work of the church and the many excellent things that are done in God’s name.

   Reaching out to families

  • to be welcoming & inclusive

  • to be creative in serving and worship

   Taking faith seriously

  • Our discipleship

  • Growing in our faith

  • Learning about our faith

  • Worship

  • Witness – sharing our faith with others

 Read the full On The Way Vision – click here

• You can also find out more about On the Way on the Diocesan website here that includes a video from Bishop Philip.
• Bishop Philip recently gave a very pertinent Presidential Address at the recent Diocesan Synod meeting where he shared his vision of the Church in Cornwall. Read it in full here.
• Our monthly newsletter can be read/downloaded here.
• The next Messy Church at St Germans Priory will be in the New Year – details to follow
  
• Pub theology continues online……click here for details, now moved to Monday evening, monthly, starting from June 7th.
  
• Other events can be found below ‘Pub theology’
  
• Covid restrictions – we are currently reviewing our policies in the light of the omicron variant.  We are mindful of the government emphasis on all of us taking care of our own well being and safety. Our policies are designed to respect those in our congregations who are more vulnerable, and those who wish to continue with the restrictions. Mindful of the anxieties from our congregation and visitors, the churches have a responsibility to support public health. We will therefore continue to strongly encourage all our visitors to wear face coverings, sanitise hands and register with the Test and Trace system when visiting or worshiping.
  • In addition, our worship patterns will remain the same. We may experiment with singing of hymns, but with masks, which may be uncomfortable.
  • Holy Communion will continue to be in one kind (the bread) only. We will continue to remain in our seats for the sharing of the peace.
  • We will continue our strict cleaning regimes.
  • All our churches are open to visitors as places of interest, prayer and reflection.
  • We will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation and may change our advice as deemed necessary.

Online options

There are many options for worship and prayer online….

Or you could still listen to one of the many radio options – Radio 4, Radio Cornwall offer services on a Sunday around 8am.

Or you could look at: Church of England website that now has more services to join – or at many churches and cathedrals up and down the country who have other offerings

A very good resource is https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/church-online

Browse a whole range of prayers you can choose from to read – or listen to:

Or using your computer, tablet or phone (as you prefer) and from your web browser access morning and evening prayer using this link:

Click here and choose what you need.

To read or hear the prayer for today, click on this link: http://cofe.io/TodaysPrayer

Browse around the various pages and you’re sure to find something that interests you.

Alternatively download an App for your tablet or phone. Church House Publishing or provide a number of these Apps and these can be downloaded from https://www.chpublishing.co.uk/apps/daily-prayer

Parish Contacts

Parish Priest: Rev. Canon Lynn Parker – main point of contact for all matters

Curate: Rev. Laura Bushell-Hawke

Parish Wardens: Paul Gribble and Rosemary Stevenson

Readers/Licensed Lay Ministers: Richard Laugharne, Margaret Sylvester-Thorne, David Watters, Matt Frost

For weddings, baptisms, funerals and church services:  Rev. Canon Lynn Parker, David Watters and Margaret Sylvester-Thorne

Children’s work: Rev. Canon Lynn Parker, Evelyn Reed, David Watters, Margaret Sylvester-Thorne, Rev Laura Bushell-Hawke

Messy Church: Evelyn Reed

For buildings and general parish enquiries: the Parish Wardens:   Paul Gribble and Rosemary Stevenson

For Safeguarding:  Rev Laura Bushell-Hawke

Pastoral Visitors Team:  Pat Paxton

Parish Giving Scheme:  Paul Gribble

Finances: the Treasurer, Paul Gribble

Electoral Roll: Rosemary Stevenson

Enquiries about individual churches:

Downderry:  Andrew Pidgen

Hessenford: Fran Moore

St Germans: Richard Laugharne

Tideford: Evelyn Reed

Deanery Synod Reps:  David Watters,  Rosemary Stevenson and Paul Gribble

Cashiers: Peter Daw – St Germans; Tim Pullin – Downderry; Hugh Parker – Tideford and Fiona Bristow – Hessenford.

Additional PCC Members from May 2020

Tim Pullin, Stephen Guffick, Tilly Thompson, Yvonne Byles, Hugh Parker, Susan Booth, Dawn Couling, Fiona Bristow, and Bill Woods.

Hire and other info on St Germans Priory Church for events:

The St Germans Priory Trust:   www.stgermanspriory.info

Hire of the Church Hall in Hessenford:  http://www.hessenford.net

_________________________________________________________

‘At the heart of Christmas’ is the Church of England’s theme for Advent and Christmas 2021.  Local churches all over the country will be welcoming their communities – onsite and online – to celebrate and share the good news of Christ’s birth with special services and events, supported by a wide range of national resources and support.

In 2020, many of us experienced a Christmas when so many of the ways we traditionally mark the season were suddenly denied to us.  This year, of course, we hope and pray that many of the familiar experiences that help Christmas come alive return to our homes, our churches and communities. But whatever else December brings, it will offer us an opportunity to enter more deeply into the joyful mystery that lies at its heart: God becoming human in the birth of Jesus Christ.

Inspired by readings from the Gospels of Luke and John read at so many Christmas services, At the heart of Christmas is an invitation to everyone to discover – or rediscover – the good news of God’s saving love as revealed in the birth of Jesus. It is also a challenge to each of us to ponder in our hearts – as Mary did – what the extraordinary events of the first Christmas might mean for us now and in the years ahead.

At the heart of Christmas is a deliberately simple and open theme – one that can be used to invite our communities to share in celebrating the good news of Christmas in a whole variety of ways, whatever the prevailing circumstances.

Reflections: There will be 12 Stories and Meditations from Justin Welby, Stephen Cottrell and guests where they will share personal stories exploring themes close to the heart of Christmas.   Starting on Christmas Eve and continuing daily (Monday to Saturday) until the Epiphany (6 January), these reflections will help you make space for that exploration. On each of the twelve days, a different contributor will share something that lies close to the heart of Christmas for them, bringing the theme to life through a mixture of personal story, Bible reading, reflection and questions to ponder.  These reflections will be available via the app and a Church House Publishing Booklet.

National Online Services: In collaboration with a range of Christian charities and organisations, there will be online services for the Sundays of Advent and Christmas. They will all be broadcast on the Church of England’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.

Click here to go back to top

~   News and Events in the Parish   ~

We are starting to reintroduce our public events, whilst some continue online.

St Nic’s Lunches

Much progress has been made by Sandra Pearce and her team towards getting the lunches going again. The next events are:

As always, no charge, but donations welcome.

Christmas lunch – 15th December – fully booked

Valentine’s lunch – 9th February – details to follow

Zoom Pub Theology

Now running monthly

A chance to discuss ideas and thoughts about all matter of things theological.

After a short introduction of 5 minutes (or more), the conversation is open.

Meet via Zoom from 7.30 – 8.30pm first Monday of the month, starting June 7th

Topics:       TBA….please let Richard have any suggestions

For a Zoom link or enquiries or suggestions, ring Richard Laugharne (01503-230333) or email on richard.laugharne@nhs.net

All welcome! Click here to go back to top.

____________________________________________________

Events at St Germans Priory Church

____________________________________________________

Events to follow.